Compare towns
Putnam vs Bethlehem vs Ansonia vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putnam | Bethlehem | Ansonia | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,423Lowest |
19,033Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,446 18% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
9.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.